ABSTRACT This study systematically investigates the influence of solid lubricants on the transparency and mechanical properties of UHMWPE fabricated via solid‐state drawing. While UHMWPE exhibits exceptional properties, its opaque appearance and relatively low mechanical strength significantly limit its broader applications. The incorporation of solid lubricants (PEW and ZnSt) yields substantial improvements in both transparency and mechanical performance of drawn UHMWPE. All lubricant‐containing samples demonstrate enhanced elongation at break compared to pure UHMWPE, indicating improved molecular chain mobility. Experimental findings reveal that PEW plays a crucial role in enhancing microstructural regularity and filling voids generated during solid‐state drawing, thereby increasing transmittance and reducing haze. Conversely, ZnSt exhibits detrimental effects on optical clarity and haze due to its poor compatibility and significant refractive index mismatch with the UHMWPE matrix. This research provides an in‐depth understanding of the transparency mechanism and elucidates the specific roles of lubricants in the solid‐state drawing. The findings present a highly promising strategy for the development of transparent UHMWPE with optimized mechanical properties.
Liu et al. (2025) studied this question.